OFSTED Inspection of HCJS

By David Palmer - 16th January 2013 8:00am

Following the inspection by Ofsted on 6th and 7th December 2012 I would like to put the outcome into context and begin to answer some of the questions you may have.

To the surprise and disappointment of Governors, staff and the Local Authority the overall effectiveness of our school has been graded as "Requires Improvement" (what used to be called "Satisfactory"), one grade down from "Good". The inspection was carried out under a new Ofsted framework introduced in September 2012 — the third framework in the last two years. This framework appears to have a quite narrow focus and to have been applied by the Inspectors with little flexibility.

The report, which was published on the last day of term and is now available here and on the school's website, outlines the areas that Ofsted considers to require improvement; Governors and staff will begin taking steps to address the issues identified during the inspection immediately at the start of the new term. If you would like to hear more about what's planned, there will be an open meeting for parents in the school hall at 7pm this evening, Wednesday 16th January 2013.

In the meantime, please be assured that the school will continue to be a place that your children enjoy attending, where there is a broad and balanced curriculum that offers many opportunities for extra-curricular activities and which — according to local secondary school leaders — prepares them well for the move to secondary school at the end of Year 6. Your children will continue to be the ones whose exemplary behaviour and attitude is commented on by visitors to the school and the places they visit on trips.

The Governors know that ours is a good school. So does the Local Authority. Within the next 24 months we are confident that the Headteacher and staff will have the opportunity to prove to one of HM Inspectors of Schools that it is — in Ofsted terms — a good school.

If you have any immediate questions, please direct them either to me or Ms Roberts, the Headteacher. Otherwise do please come along to the open meeting this evening, Wednesday 16th January 2013.

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